Nine-year-old Pa. girl in Halloween costume shot with shotgun after being mistaken for a skunk, police say

The Pa. home where a 9-year-old girl was shot after reportedly being mistaken for a skunk

KDKA

(CBS/AP) FREEDOM, Pa. - Police say that a 9-year-old girl dressed up for a Halloween party was accidentally shot by a relative with a shotgun who mistook her for a skunk.

New Sewickley Township police say the girl was wearing a black costume and a black hat with a white tassel.

Chief Ronald Leindecker told the Beaver County Times that a male relative fired his shotgun at the girl, who was reportedly wearing a black costume and a black hat with a white tassel, hitting her in the shoulder, arm, back and neck Saturday night.

Leindecker told the newspaper that the girl was alert and talking when she was flown to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, about 30 miles away. Her condition was unavailable.

Leindecker says the man hadn't been drinking and he doesn't know whether charges will be filed.

New Sewickley police said Sunday that decision will be made in a few days.